Foldable Wing Tip Latch With Offset Compensation Under Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight latch devices for foldable wing tips in aircraft experience constraining forces due to misalignment and deformation under load, which complicates the movement between latched and unlatched positions.
Innovation Solution
A flight latch device with a threaded shaft and nut system that allows for rotational and linear movement, featuring a pivotable shaft and a compensational bearing to accommodate offset and deformation, ensuring minimal constraining forces through a ball screw and ball nut or ball stud bearing design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid latch bolt is used to ensure strong latching, then the latching strength is improved, but the device experiences constraining forces due to misalignment and deformation under load
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bolt is designed with dynamic capabilities including rotational movement about its longitudinal axis and pivoting at the pivot connection. This allows the rigid latch bolt to adapt to misalignment and deformation under load without generating constraining forces, resolving the contradiction between maintaining latching strength and avoiding harmful constraining forces.
2Ease of operation
If the latch bolt is constrained to move precisely along a fixed axis, then the movement control is improved, but the device cannot tolerate offset or misalignment under load
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bolt incorporates rotational degrees of freedom and pivoting connections that allow it to dynamically adjust to offset and misalignment while maintaining controlled movement. The guided linear movement is complemented by rotational capabilities, enabling the system to tolerate offset without losing movement control.
3Device complexity
If a simple linear movement mechanism is used for the latch bolt, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mechanism cannot accommodate deformation and offset under high loads
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bolt mechanism combines simple guided linear movement with rotational degrees of freedom and a pivot connection. This dynamic design maintains relative simplicity while accommodating deformation and offset under high loads, as the rotational capabilities allow the mechanism to adapt without requiring complex compensation systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a simple and efficient offset compensation mechanism, allowing smooth and force-reduced movement of the latch bolt between latched and unlatched positions, even under high loads, thereby reducing structural stress and maintaining aircraft maneuverability.
Implementation Method 1
A flight latch device with a threaded shaft and nut system that allows for rotational and linear movement
Implementation Method 2
ensuring minimal constraining forces through a ball screw and ball nut or ball stud bearing design
Data Source
AI summary
A wing for an aircraft is disclosed having a fixed wing, a foldable wing tip portion and a flight latch device for latching the foldable wing tip portion in the extended position, wherein the flight latch device includes a housing, a latch bolt, and a motor for driving the latch bolt between the latched and unlatched positions. A flight latch device includes a threaded shaft rotationally driven by the motor, a nut engaging the shaft, so that the nut can rotate relative to the shaft, the nut is connected to the housing via a linear guide and is connected to the latch bolt for common linear movement with the latch bolt, and the flight latch device includes an offset compensation, providing that the shaft is supported pivotable relative to the housing and the latch bolt is coupled to the nut via a compensational bearing allowing angular play between the nut and the latch bolt.